Shroud



Dec. 13, 1932. A. H. STRAUS SHROUD Filed Feb. 17, 1931 anvswttoz Patented Dec. 13, 1932.

PATENT OFFICE ALEXANDER I-LSTRAUS, OF WOODMERE, NEW YORK simonn Application filed February 17, 1931. Serial No. 516,324.

This invention relates to an improvement in shrouds for enclosing or enveloping the bodies of deceased persons or animals. At the present time, the bodies of deceased persons are usually wrapped or enveloped in a sheet-like enclosure generally composed of textile fabric, prior to the body being embalmed or otherwise prepared for interment. Such sheets or shrouds are used but once and then discarded or destroyed, and since the same are made of textile fabric, they are comparatively expensive to use for the purpose.

The object of this invention therefore is to provide an inexpensive substitute for the textile fabric sheets now employed for the purposes described, my improved shroud also being such that it can be more readily disposed of after use than the conventional type of shroud.

A further object of this invention is to provide an easily disposable shroud of the character mentioned, which will by reason of its construction, permit of its being readily applied on the body. These and many other objects are attained by my improved shroud, the structure of which is more particularly pointed out hereinafter and set forth in the claims appended hereto.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part hereof, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved shroud, the same being in an open position or spread out flat;

Figure 2 is a view of the same in its position of adjustment about a body;

Figure 3 is a plan View of the shroud in a partially folded position; and

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line 1-4 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Throughout the various views of the draw ing, similar reference characters designate similar parts.

In the embodiment of my invention disclosed in the accompanying drawing, 1 indicates the body portion or torso-enclosing part of my improved shroud. The same is preferably in the form of a single strip or sheet of a tough, yet flexible paper. This paper is preferably wholly waterproof or at least water-repellant to a very large degree. The body portion 1 is of suitable length to accommodate the size of corpse which it is intended to envelop. provided with an integral head-enclosing member or flap 2, said flap being partly separated from the body portion 1 by the slits 3 and 4. A similar foot flap 5 is located at the One end of the body portion 1 is opposite end of the body portion 1, said flap 5 being partially separated from the body portion 1 by the slits 6 and 7.

From the foregoing, the manner 111Wl1lcl1 my improved shroud is utilized to enclose a body will be readily understood. The body is placed upon the member 1 and thefiap 2 is folded inwardly. on the fold line 8 and the wings 9 and 10 of said flap 2 arebrought toward one another on the foldlines 29 and 30, and overlapped as disclosed in Figure 3, so that a resultant adjustable pocket 11 is formed, which encloses the head of the corpse. Similarly, the flap 5 is infolded on the fold line 12 and its side wings 13 and 14 are infolded toward one another on the fold lines 15 and 16 so that they overlap as disclosed in Figure 3, to provide a pocket 17 to receive the feet of the corpse.

It will be clear that the head and feet of the corpse are now enclosed within the, pockets 11 and 17 respectively. To complete the enclosure of the corpse, the opposite side wings 18 and 19 of the body portion 1 are infolded toward one another on their respective longitudinal fold lines 20 and 21 so that these two flaps overlie the pockets 11 and 17 and are brought into overlapped relationship as is clearly shown in Figures 2 and 4.

The outer face of the body wing 18 is provided with fastener members in the form of i I bodv of the shroud to closely fit the corpse.

The nature of the material employed for the shroud is such that any fluid emanating from body orifices will be confined within the shroud.

The shroud may be very readily destroyed or otherwise disposed of after it has served its purpose and due to the nature of the material used, it is relatively inexpensive to use. Due to its adjustable features, but few sizes of the article are required to accommodate persons of various bodily contour.

What I claim is 1. A shroud for totally enclosing a corpse, consisting of a moisture-proof paper sheet having a central torso-embracing part provided with wings adapted to be brought to a position of overlap, fastening means for holding said wings in their overlapped position, head and foot extensions on the opposite ends of the torso-embracing part, said extensions being provided with side flaps which are brought together and overlapped to form said extensions into pockets into which the head and feet respectively of the corpse are contained, the pockets thus formed being bodily folded inwardly and toward one another and caused to overlie the opposite ends of the torso-embracing part of the sheet.

2. A shroud for totally enclosing a corpse consisting of a waterproof paper sheet slit inwardly from its opposite longitudinal edges near its opposite ends, the parts of the sheet located between the slits and the ends of the 7 sheet, constituting flaps for movement to an overlapping position to form pockets at the opposite ends of the sheet, the pockets thus formed being adapted to be bodily folded inwardly toward one another to enclose the head and feet respectively of the corpse, a central body portion on the sheet between the pockets, flaps on said central body portion adapted to overlap one another and cover the pockets, and fastening means on the flaps for holding the same in their overlapped relationship.

Signed at the city, county and State of New York, this 16th day of February, 1931.

ALEXANDER H. STRAUS. 

